Obit: Witt, Augusta (1853 - 1932)

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Surnames: WITT HAHN ZARNKE MILLER STUBENRAUCH SCHILLINGER SCHILLING SCHORER FARMER

----Sources: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) 20 Oct 1932

Witt, Augusta (23 Oct. 1853 - 13 Oct. 1932)

Mrs. Augusta Henrietta Dorothy Witte passed on to the distant shore last Thursday, October 13, old age and complications being the cause of her departure. Funeral services were held at the St. John’s Evangelical church Monday, October 17th, Rev. G. F. Hahn officiating, and internment was made in the Colby cemetery. The pall bearers were her five sons and her son in law, William Zarnke. The flower girls were Madelyn Witte, Arlene Zarnke, Leona Zarnke, Dorothy Miller, Mrs. Lyle Stubenrauch, Elsie Witte, Ione Witte and Mrs. Ferdinand Schillinger.

The deceased, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schilling, was born at Seehausen, Prussia, Germany, Oct. 23, 1853, thus reaching the age of seventy-eight years, eleven months and twenty days. She was married to Frederick Witte at Seehausen, Prussia, Germany, in 1873 and they came to the United States in 1874 and lived in the town of Herman, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and later in the town of Mosel, until 1881 when they moved to this locality. At that time, this was still a vast wilderness, and, by hard work and privations, built a large and fine farm. Mrs. Witte’s husband died in 1900 after which she made her home with her two sons, John and Paul, in the town of Hull until about five months ago when her health began to fail. Since that time she made her home with her son in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Zarnke.

Nine children, thirty-three grand children and eighteen great grand children mourn her death. Three children preceded her in death - Ida, Walter and Frederick. The children still living are Mrs. Wm. Zarnke of Colby; Wm. Witte, Colby; Mrs. George Miller, Colby; Paul Witte, town of Hull; John Witte, town of Hull; Otto Witte, town of Hull; Mrs. Robert Schorer, town of Hull; Mrs. Chas. Miller, Wells, Minnesota; Frank Witte, town of Hull.

The out of town people here for the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Don Farmer and daughter, Betty, Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin; Mrs. Lyle Stubenrauch, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Schillinger, Edgar; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Zarnke. Jr., Stratford.

The deceased was a member of the St. John’s ladies Aid and a charter member of St. John’s Evangelical church. She was a good Christian and always was faithful to her various duties in life. Like all early pioneers, she was of a hospitable and congenial disposition and had many friends who extend sympathy to the bereaved family.